Xenophon turns to Hollywood for pointers on Labor leadership

National political reporter

Ben Affleck in the movie Argo. Independent senator Nick Xenophon says this film and bin Laden film Zero Dark Thirty are pointers to Labor's leadership woes

The long dresses and long acceptance speeches of the Oscars may seem a world a way from Canberra, but independent MP Nick Xenophon can see some similarities.

When asked on Monday if he thought Prime Minister Julia Gillard would be leader at the next election, he went straight to Hollywood for an answer.

''I know it's Oscar day today . . . and I just thought what movies best reflect the current situation in Canberra?'' Senator Xenophon observed at the start of a sitting week for the Senate only.

''To me it's a combination of Argo – that hostage thriller – and Zero Dark Thirty [a drama about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden featuring graphic depictions of torture]. I think the Australian public is being tortured by what's going on with every opinion poll.''

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Last week's Fairfax/Nielsen poll showed support for both Labor and Ms Gillard had slumped, putting the Coalition ahead 56 per cent to 44 per cent, two-party-preferred.

As speculation over the Labor leadership continues, the next Newspoll is due to be published on Tuesday.

Senator Xenophon could identify at least one difference between the Oscars and Labor's predicament: